Village keeps ancient paper-making tradition alive

KUNMING — In a small village in Yunnan province, a crystal-clear stream has been more than just a source of water for generations — it has been the lifeblood of an ancient paper-making tradition.

When she played in the stream as a child, local artisan Ai Ye liked to watch her village elders soak and wash the mulberry bark that would later be transformed into delicate sheets of handmade paper.

"We mimicked the adults when we played in the water," she said. "It was like a game. But gradually, I fell in love with the craft."